Physical Distance or Emotional Distance: Which is Harder?
Physical distance
Due to the popularity of online dating, long distance relationships are now as common as a Charlie Sheen rant. I have many friends who met their partners online and none of them claimed it was easy. I get that. My boyfriend works away for two weeks out of every five, and although that isn't quite the same as being apart for months at a time, I definitely understand how it feels to miss someone you love.
One thing I've noticed about the people who have conquered long distance love is that they are exceptionally close. I guess it's because their relationships were never built on lust, but on common interests and similar dreams. When you can't be distracted by the temptation to boink each other's brains out, you learn a lot more about who a person really is.
Emotional distance
I'm an expert on the problems of emotional distance. Emotional rifts are caused by a lack of communication, and they only worsen with time. I've been in a couple of relationships with emotionally stunted men, and not once has it worked out well. It just made me feel isolated, and also made me wonder if those guys cared about me at all.
I am a known talker. If there is a problem, I want it out in the open. I don't want to let it fester until it explodes into a gigantic mess because at that point, it is much harder to clean up. So, how to deal with it? The choices are to force the issue and watch him clam up even more, or learn to live with it. Either way, you're in for a rough ride.
I wouldn't say that emotional distance can't be fixed, it's just never happened for me. I firmly believe that a physical distance is much easier to fix than an emotional one. Emotional rifts are often complicated and in my experience, it's much harder to sustain a relationship with someone who can't or won't talk than with someone who lives far away.
More from Kyra:
The Regrets of a Woman: Are Relationships Really Top of the List?
Mistakes Men Make With Women
Negative Impacts of Low Self Esteem in Relationships
Published by Kyra Lennon - Featured Contributor in Arts & Entertainment, Travel and Lifestyle
Kyra Lennon has been writing for most of her life. Alongside working on her first full length novel, Kyra has published online content with a focus on dating and relationships, entertainment and travel. A... View profile
Long Distance Relationships: Myth, or Lovely Possibility?Technology makes many things easier, but in some ways it makes relationships harder. Now, people can meet and connect all over the globe. But long distance relationships don't s...- Emotional Infidelity: Its Risk to Your MarriageWhere does infidelity begin and end in a marriage? Is it limited to having sex with someone other then your partner or can it be something as seemingly innocent as having an emotional relationship with someone other...
- Should You Forgive Emotional Cheating?Finding out that your spouse has been unfaithful can come as quite a blow and bring an end to your marriage. But is it worth forgiving your spouse for having an emotional affair?
- Do You Suspect Your Spouse is an Emotional Cheater?Emotional cheating robs a marriage of its trust and intimacy and can lead to the end of the marriage once the deception comes to light.
HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPSRELATIONSHIPS OF DIFFERENT TYPES NEED CARE. You will find tips to keep many common relationships healthy here in this article.
- The Three Worst Problems with Long Distance Relationships
- Long Distance Relationships in the 21st Century
- Unforeseen Consequences of Long Distance Relationships - Internet Dating
- Distance in Irish Romanticism
- Life After an Emotional Affair
- Long-Distance Relationships: A Survival Guide
- Long Distance Hiking: Mental Preparedness
5 Comments
Post a CommentI agree. I know where you're coming from. My ex was a long distance relationship, and we still ended up getting married. But once he became emotionally distant, he "fell out of love" and into the arms of another woman. If you just can't communicate with someone, it's out of your hands. Choose your partner wisely, I guess!
I'm with Tiff! Great article!
I'm sure it's highly individual.
I guess they are both tough in different ways. I think physical distance would work out better in the long run tho than emotional distance.
Emotional distance is way harder than physical distance.